Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About Napa Cabs?

So, we’ve tried a whole lot of wine subscriptions over here at Vino Del Vida. I’m on the hunt to find the perfect wine subscription that’s not only affordable but offers the perfect balance of beginning wine lovers and wine connoisseurs alike.

The only place that I ever heard anything about Napa Cabs was on the Napa Cabs website, but I wasn’t able to find any reviews on the internet. Seeing that I wasn’t able to find any reviews, I figured it would be the perfect reason to check this wine subscription box out!

So, what does Napa Cabs have in store for us today? Keep reading to find out!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog to learn about the other wine subscription boxes that we’ve reviewed!

The wines I received

 The wines that I received in my Napa Caps box where the Plumpjack Chardonnay and the Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet.

Pumpjack Chardonnay

The 2016 Plumpjack Reserve Chardonnay comes from Napa  Valley, California. in the sheet that I received from Napa cabs, they highlighted that this 2016 vintage has yet another drought year. This happened to be the fifth in a row in the Napa Valley.

The drought that Plumpjack Winery experienced allowed for the grapes inside of this wine to mature more slowly, allowing the flavour to develop and tannin to mature prior to harvesting.

This Reserve Chardonnay was fermented in the Aged and 64% stainless steel fermenters and 36% French Oak Burgundy barrels. This fermentation was kept at a cooler temperature, at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This helped to preserve the fresh fruit aromatics.

The stainless steel also helps retain the fresh, varietal character, by the depth and complexity. Plumpjack Winery didn’t allow this wine to undergo malolactic fermentation so that they could preserve the vibrant and lively acted on the palate along with the fresh aromatics.

 With 100% Chardonnay Blends, there are only 2905 cases of this wine produced. Napa Valley also noted that this one has a 14.4% alcohol concentration and the grapes that are used in this wine were harvested between September 14th and September 26th.

The Chardonnay grapes were sourced from two vineyards in the Napa Valley. I sourcing from to Vineyards, you get a unique flavour profile from this wine, from a freshly cut green apple and zingy lemon zest Aromas to a warm lychee fragrance best bright acidity. I was also able to pick up on a case of oak that is settled later into the nose and the palate, which hinted at bake vanilla and toasted almonds.

When I first sipped on this wine, the vibrancy of this wine shocked me- it’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of tasting such vibrant and deep wine. If I could bottle the scent that this chardonnay had, I would put it in a candle! I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and will be purchasing more bottles to have constant access to this beautiful wine!

Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet

This 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon was made in Rutherford Napa Valley.

What’s 93 + point wine as a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot it has been aged 21 months and 85% new French Oak.

 When I first sipped on this wine, I noticed that it was a very full body but the firm backbone of grainy tannins, right, oodles of freshness that supported the black fruit layers. The finish of this wine lasted a long time in my mouth and offered a very earthy taste.

I thought it was very interesting that Napa cabs include the age-ability of this wine, which is noted as 2018 to 2033. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. I found that the blend was very unique, almost like any other wine that I’ve had the opportunity to taste. Combined with the black fruit layers and the earthiness of this cabernet, the full bodied-ness of the Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet really stuck with me. 9/10 would recommend!

Food Pairings

Napa cabs also included a food pairings card with two wines that I received my box.

For the Plumpjack Chardonnay, Napa Cabs recommend a steak. Rich fish such as turbot, grilled veal chops with mushrooms, late summer vegetables such as corn, pumpkin ravioli, red peppers, or corn would be a great pairing with this Rich Chardonnay.

 As for the Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet, Napa cabs recommended a big rib eye with minimal seasoning. The tannins in this Cabernet a cut to the fat and elevate the experience of your steak.

For both of the ones that I received, not the Cavs also recommended portobello mushrooms.  if you’re not somebody who enjoys meat, try grilling a big portobello mushroom with butter and garlic to pair well with both of these wines. The intense flavour of dried porcini mushrooms for also help to make Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet be outstanding.

I also tasted a few different kinds of cheese to see what the best cheese for both of these wines would be if you’re somebody who enjoys wine and cheese pairings. I found that hard cheeses such as good a or an aged cheddar work well.

For meals, I found that gorgonzola paired exceptionally well with a burger I personally enjoy this the most with the Plumpjack Chardonnay.

Napa Cabs also gave me a coupon code to repurchase any wines that I received my subscription box again.

Napa Cabs FAQs

Pros and cons of Napa Cabs

Are you looking to take a glimpse of the Napa Cabs wine of the month club? We’ve got a pros and cons list for you here:

Pros:

• Detailed pairing cards
• A super informative card that detailed specific information about the wines
• Secure packaging

Cons:

• No longer available

Other alternatives to consider

Are you looking for other wine subscription boxes to explore?

Here are a few other what we would recommend:

Cellars Wine Club

15% of your purchase is donated to a non-profit. There are nine different subscription plans that you can choose from with the Cellars wine club, which allows beginners and connoisseurs alike to try something new. You have the option to select your wine preference, the number of shipments you’re interested in receiving, as well as the frequency of your shipments.

There’s a whole lot to choose from with the Cellars wine club! Plus, they’re very affordable, so you can even choose from a few different subscriptions if you’re really looking to experiment!

Firstleaf Wine Club

Firstleaf wine club offers affordable wines by working directly with wine producers, which helps you to save up to 60% off of your wines.

When you sign up for Firstleaf, you’ll have to answer a few different questions to fill out your flavour profile. You’ll receive a selection of six different wine bottles with your first box, which you’ll be asked to rate so that Firstleaf can choose better selections for next shipment.

The average cost of a bottle from Firstleaf is $13 per bottle. It’s a super affordable subscription to choose if you’re looking to experiment while you’re on a budget!

Would I recommend Napa Cabs wine of the month club?

If Napa Cabs was still offering their wine of the month club, I would recommend the subscription box. However, if you’re looking for it an affordable and fun wine subscription box to try out, check out some of our above list of recommendations.

What did you think of this Napa Cabs wine of the month club?

Further read:

• The Best Michigan Wines By Variety And Region
• 10 of the Best Online Wine Stores You’ll Want to Try Today
• Winc (Formerly Club W) Review – Is This Wine Subscription For You?
• Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About Napa Cabs? 
• Firstleaf vs Bright Cellars Compared: Which Subscription Is Best?
• SomMailier Wine Subscription Review- Best Wine Subscription Box